Mykolaiv region has found itself at the center of a scandal linked to a large-scale fraud in the military sector, which caused the state damages of nearly 8 million hryvnias
The detection of this corruption scheme resulted from the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies, in particular the State Bureau of Investigation. They uncovered illegal activities at one of the military units in the region, significantly undermining trust in the military service and triggering widespread public outcry. According to investigators, from March to June 2024, high-ranking officials of the military unit organized and managed a scheme to falsify documents, allowing them to artificially create combat allowances for servicemen who were not actually in active combat zones. From forged papers and "reports," data was fabricated claiming that over fifty military personnel participated in combat operations. In reality, their involvement in hostilities was fictitious, and they were paid funds designated for "combat" activities. As a result of these actions, the state budget suffered significant losses—almost 8 million hryvnias. These funds were illegally redistributed, as confirmed by the investigation. It has been established that those responsible for this scheme caused substantial financial harm to the state, violating Ukrainian legislation on military service and abusing their official positions. Law enforcement agencies have notified three individuals of suspicion in connection with this scheme. According to official information, the suspects are the chief of staff of the military unit, his brother—who is the head of one of the subdivisions—and an assistant responsible for processing documents. They are suspected of abuse of power in especially large amounts and official forgery—criminal articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carry penalties of up to 6 years of imprisonment. Currently, investigators are actively working on deciding whether to choose a preventive measure and to suspend them from their duties. At the same time, law enforcement is preparing documents to ensure proper legal investigation and to prevent further damage to the state. This is not the only case of combating corruption in the military sphere of the region. Just a few days ago, law enforcement officers detained a high-ranking military officer—a former colonel of the medical service, who facilitated the transfer of servicemen from combat zones to rear units in exchange for bribes. These actions also fall under articles related to corruption and abuse of power, and the investigation aims to establish all circumstances and the scale of these illegal operations. This story once again highlights the problem of corruption and abuse within Ukraine's military system, especially during wartime when financial oversight and the integrity of officials must be particularly strict. Those responsible are already facing trial, but public trust in military structures has been significantly damaged, and society demands greater transparency and reforms. The high level of misuse of state funds not only undermines the financial foundation of the country's defense but also damages the morale of servicemen who diligently perform their duties in this difficult situation.